Rolled Attic Insulation Fiberglass Vs Cellulose

Assuming your current attic insulation is made from fiberglass and has a value of r 13 you d have to add roughly 10 inches of additional fiberglass to hit r 38.

Rolled attic insulation fiberglass vs cellulose.

In contrast to fiberglass insulation cellulose insulation does not trap air in between it s fibers to control heat. Fibreglass is perhaps the most common product available in the market for insulation outpacing its close competitor cellulose by 50 1. It is made from paper that has a minimum of 85 recycled content such as newspaper. Both of these insulation materials share common characteristics and both of them are directly competitive in the residential insulation market offering distinct options when deciding what product to pick from the two.

Which means cellulose insulation can be compressed into a space and offer additional r value. Insulation should be rolled out perpendicular to the joists and unfaced rolls should be used. Batt or rolled insulation or blown loose fill insulation fiberglass or cellulose can be installed on top of old insulation. This keeps the air from moving within the insulation and from penetrations between the air conditioned space and the attic.

Attic insulation is accomplished with either fiberglass blankets batt or blown in insulation. Cellulose insulation is considered a greener material than fiberglass. This allows the insulation to get into the small pockets and crevices that fiberglass wouldn t be able to. Any existing batt or roll insulation in the attic should have the facing against the attic drywall floor or no facing at all.

Before choosing blown vs. Cellulose forms a dense continuous mat of insulation in your attic. Batt insulation take time to read this column. It does not pollute the air during manufacture or use as much energy to produce as fiberglass.

Cellulose has 38 better air infiltration than fiberglass. Or 7 inches of cellulose. This includes loose fill fiberglass which is made of 30 percent glass mineral wool which is 75 percent recycled content and cellulose which is made of recycled newspapers. Of these cellulose has a better r rating and is not as expensive as fiberglass.

You can get to the same place with either material. Fiberglass fibers may become airborne which can be considered a pollutant. By nature the cells inside the cellulose insulation have their own insulating power. Thus creating a more energy efficient home.

Rather than trying to meticulously lay fiberglass insulation over the attic homeowners and builders can simply blow cellulose insulation throughout the attic.